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Women in business 2008: Southeast Missouri businesswomen's success storiesTuesday, November 18, 2008
City of residence: Cape Girardeau Name of business: Offices Unlimited, Inc. Years in business: 20 years total, 9 as a self-employed owner Education/career background: High school, plus one year of college
I started with Craftsman Office Supply selling paper, pens and pencils, then moved into the furniture division because I enjoyed the design and creativity. What is a typical day for you at the store? We never have a typical day, and that's what makes what I do so much fun. However, most days consist of design and selling. What was the most difficult part of launching a business?
What advice would you give to women considering opening their own business? Make sure you have a passion for what you're doing. Surround yourself with good support people. Do your research in the marketplace. What keeps you coming back day after day? Well, besides the bank... Our office supply customers are repeat customers so we develop a relationship with them. They become people we care about and look forward to talking with. I love that every day is different. The ability to be creative and see an office space from the beginning to completely furnished, and see the end result with the customer and their approval gives me satisfaction.
Age: 33 City of residence: Cape Girardeau Name of business: Hendrickson Business Advisors, LLC How long in business: 1.5 years
How did you get your start in the business? After spending 15 years in banking, mostly on the corporate side, I knew I was ready to follow my dreams and start my own business. I have a passion for serving small to mid-sized businesses, so my decision came down to starting a bank or a consulting firm. After studying the economic outlook, it simply wasn't the right time to start a bank, so I opted for the consulting firm. It has been a wonderful experience and I wouldn¿t have done it any other way. What do you do at HBA? I am the president of the firm that my husband and I own together. My responsibility is to work with our clients to help them generate revenue and bring more of that revenue to the bottom line, lead the amazing team of people that we have on board and give back to the larger community.
We started this business out of our home and that was a challenge. I really struggled to separate my work and my home life. The other difficult part of launching the business was the financial risk involved. My husband works for Southeast Missouri Hospital and has great healthcare benefits which made the decision easier for our family, but it was still a big change. Looking back, the risk was well worth taking. What advice would you give to women considering opening their own business? I give women the same advice I give men: Go for it! Just know that you need a solid business plan, a strong team of advisors (attorney, accountant, financial planner, business consultant) who will help you make the right decisions the first time and more start-up capital than you anticipate. You also need to make sure you have a strong support system of friends and family to help you handle the late nights, pick the kid(s) up from school and give you a little time for yourself when you need it. It's definitely not a one-man (or one-woman) show. What keeps you coming back day after day?
Marcy Dockins City of residence: Cape Girardeau Name of business: Marcy's Planet Shoes How long in business: 30 years
My start in the shoe business is rather an amazing story. My ex-husband was quite an entrepreneur. He was known to buy underperforming businesses and attempt to re-energize them. One day in 1978, he borrowed money from the bank and bought a tiny shoe store in Cairo, Ill. Since he was preoccupied with other work, he presented the store to me along with the accompanying banknote. Having had no retail experience, I was terrified! The store was dark, and the inventory was even darker, but my mother and I immediately did what we could to brighten things up, and I wrote on the windows with shoe polish, "All Shoes On Sale." Somehow, we sold those shoes and repaid the bank in three weeks. Meanwhile, a local podiatrist sent an elderly lady to the store. She was carrying an advertisement for Dr. Scholl's Shoes she had cut out of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch newspaper. She informed me that the doctor said if I would put these shoes in my store, "He and you could sell them." With trepidation, I purchased that national line, and I was launched! What do you do on a typical day?
We are a "sit and fit" specialty store as opposed to "self service." Doctors, therapists, etc., refer patients to us, so my staff must be cognizant as to what styles to recommend and then make those people comfortable. Training is ongoing because new styles arrive daily, and there is a specific reason why those particular shoes were purchased for the store. We take pride in being known for quality and comfortable footwear for the entire family. However, we have added several fashion lines that will take our customer to a wedding, church services, or on a cruise in style. What was the most difficult part of launching a business? The most difficult part of launching a business for me was maintaining cash flow. From the beginning, it was a "pay as you go" enterprise. Therefore, the search was on for the right products to sell. What advice would you give to women considering opening their own business? My advice to women considering opening their own business: (a) Have a passion for whatever you choose; (b) Be willing to devote 24/7 to your work; (c) Maintain excellent credit; (d) Have a niche — a reason for customers to come to you, otherwise the "big boxes" will devour you; (e) In retail, a good location is a must if you don¿t have a great deal of money to spend on marketing. If you aren't well located, it could take 10 years or more for people to find you; (f) Again, in retail, to be successful, you must be willing to travel to national and regional markets to see what's out there and then decide which of the products will sell in your community. What do you love about your work? Having literally been thrown into the shoe business, I have evolved into what the old-timers describe as a "shoe-dog." The footwear market is really exciting these days. For instance, all the manufacturers are attempting to go green. One company found that in Southeast Asia, empty bags that once held rice were being thrown into landfills. They managed to obtain these strong containers and are using them to fashion totes, handbags and even the upper part of sandals. New products are always emerging, like children's shoes shaped like alligators, frogs, ladybugs, etc.; shoes that work on instability to work muscles we don't ordinarily use when walking on smooth surfaces such as concrete, wood and tile; shoes that distribute our weight and correct our posture. Such strides in the industry are what keep me coming back day after day to my store. Gratification to me is how I feel when people smile instead of grimace when they walk in a good pair of shoes; and also, in knowing that a bank loan of $1,200 for a 900-square-foot store in 1978 could blossom into a 5,000-square-foot space filled with wonderful footwear and envied by many independent shoe store owners across this nation. Lori Friese Age: 41 City of residence: Jackson Name of business: 6583 Mill Place How long in business: The shop has been in business for 5.5 years, but I just purchased it in February 2008. Education/career background: I attended the University of Missouri-Columbia and Southeast Missouri State University. I spent the past nine years in real estate sales, development and property management before taking over the shop. How did you get your start in the business? Owning my own shop has been a dream of mine for many years and I've always loved re-decorating my home and helping friends with theirs as well. So, when I heard that a home decor shop in Jackson that I frequently visited might be going up for sale, I let the owner know I was interested. When she finally made the decision to sell, she gave me a call and everything just fell into place from there. What is a typical day for you at the store? I don't think I EVER have what could be considered a "typical" day. I am the only person "on staff," so my days are usually quite busy. I get to do all of the fun stuff such as selecting new merchandise for the shop, unpacking orders, setting up displays, etc., however, I also have to take care of those unpleasant tasks such as paying bills, sweeping, dusting, taking out the trash, and more. What was the most difficult part of launching a business? The most difficult part for me would have to be letting go of the financial security of having a steady income. What advice would you give to women considering opening their own business? My advice to other women considering business ownership would be a number of suggestions. First of all, make sure you are passionate about the products/services you will be offering. It's difficult to sell something you don't love! Second, realize the self-commitment that owning your own business will require — trust me, it takes an unbelievable amount of time and energy! Additionally, make sure your family supports your endeavor. I could not have done this without the love and support of my husband and children as well as the rest of our family and close friends. What keeps you coming back day after day? What keeps me coming back day after day is the fact that I absolutely love what I am doing! I especially enjoy setting up displays in such a way that my customers can visualize how something will look in their own home. I love it when customers come in and say, "Oh, I just wish my entire house looked like this!" And that's exactly why I'm here — to help them achieve that! It's a great feeling! High Street Station Store is co-owned by a mother and her two daughters; they answered collectively. High Street Station was established in 1999, purchased by these women in 2004. Name: Lisa Walker, co-owner, manager, buyer, and marketing Age: 44 Education/career background: B.S. in business administration with a concentration in marketing Name: Lynette Strange, co-owner and accountant Age: 42 Education/career background: B.S. in business administration with a concentration in accounting; CPA license Name: Kathleen Walker, co-owner and organizing diva Age: 65 Education/career background: Gift shop manager for 20 years How did you get your start in the business? It was always a dream of ours to open and operate a business that's a reflection of our style, utilizes our individual strengths and most importantly spend time together and have fun! Lynette moved to Cape with her family in 2003. High Street Station was one of her favorite stores. When she saw that it was for sale, we all decided it was the opportunity we had been looking for. Our parents were retiring and Lisa was ready for a change so we decided to go for it! What is a typical day for you at the store? Obviously, our most important task throughout the day is to assist our customers. But in between that there is always lots to do. In order to keep the store fresh for our regular customers, we receive new shipments of merchandise weekly. So we check-in inventory, price, and display constantly. There is also all the bookkeeping, payroll, taxes, etc., that must be prepared. What was the most difficult part of launching a business? It's scary to start or purchase a business. It's a lot of responsibility and financially risky. It's important to keep your expectations realistic. We didn't launch our business, we purchased an established business. One of the challenges we faced after the purchase was making people aware of the change in ownership and that we offered a new and unique shopping experience. We have found that sending out a quarterly newsleetter to our customers and postcards help remind them to return on a regular basis. What advice would you give to women considering opening their own business? We would advise women to have a good support system of family and friends so you don't get burnt out. It is also important to start your business with enough working capital so you aren't financially strapped in the beginning. It's a lot of long hours, hard work, and challenges, but one of the most rewarding experiences at the same time. Aslo, be realistic in your expectations. What keeps you coming back day after day? Things we love about owning our own business are working with family, the freedom of being our own boss, and satisfaction of creating a unique shopping experience that brings people pleasure. The best part of the store has been the relationships we've built with our customer family. One of us has been struggling with an illness and has been overwhelmed and touched by the outpouring of cards, notes of encouragement, prayers, flowers, etc. Thank you to all of them. Many of our customers have become friends and that's been the most satisfying. Nicole Landgraf Age: 27 City of residence: Fruitland Name of business: Aura Skin & Body Care How long in business: 2 years Education/career background: B.S. in agribusiness, licensed esthetican, and graduate nurse How did you get your start in the business? I got introduced to this business my last semester of college. My boyfriend gave me a gift certificate to a local spa. That is when I received my first facial. I decided that when I had my mid-life crisis I would go back to school for esthetics. I just didn't realize that would be within five months after graduating college. What is a typical day for you at Aura? It is a new day each day. I may do financial paperwork, inventory control, and marketing one day, then be doing facials, waxing, and body treatments all day the following. There is no set 9 to 5 schedule. What was the most difficult part of launching a business? Not second guessing my instincts and being realistic. When you own the business and traffic is slow it can drive you crazy. What advice would you give to women considering opening their own business? RESEARCH. What makes your business unique and stand out from everyone else? As a business owner you are a jack of all trades. Marketing guru, management consultant, financial auditor, and then you are the product or service you offer. If you are weak in these areas, take a class. What do you love about your work? The fact that people WANT to come see me, not because they have to. It is a positive energy business and I always walk in with a smile and come out with a bigger one. That is what I love. Leslie Martin City of residence: Cape Girardeau Name of business: A Small World Pre-School, Inc. (Cape) and A Small World Too Pre-School, Inc. (Jackson) Years in business: Cape since 1982, Jackson since 1996 Education/career background: I graduated from Southeast Missouri State University in 1982 with a B.S in elementary education with a specialization in early childhood. How did you get your start in childcare? After I graduated in May I started at A Small World in Cape, working for Sue Anne Rademaker as a two-year-old teacher. In 1993 Cathy Clark and I bought A Small World. We built A Small World Pre-School Too in Jackson and opened it in 1996. What is a typical day for you at Small World? Everyday is different! I open the doors at 6:30 and the day begins. We first have center time and then it is on to group time for snacks and The Pledge of Allegience. After we have a snack we go to our classes for classtime art. After we finish art we have our morning rotations, where the children go to reading, gym, lessontime and music. They rotate every 15 minutes to a different area with a different teacher. We have a very good pre-K program that is modified for all ages. We have lunch and then we settle down for naptime. After naptime we have snacktime, outside playtime and centers until pick-up time. We close our Cape facility at 5:30 p.m. and our Jackson facility at 6 p.m. What was the most difficult part of launching a business? Making sure you are following city and state guidelines. You also have to make sure funding is available to cover salaries until your business is off the ground. Hiring the right people that will take ownership in their job is very important! What advice would you give to women considering opening their own business? I love owning my own business and I recommend every woman who ever wanted to be self-supported to find something that they love and would like to put their heart into and give it a try. You have to have a passion for what you are doing and you have to look at the daily rewards along the way. A good business doesn't happen overnight, you have to work at it everyday. What keeps you coming back day after day? I love children and everyday is a new day. I love the look on a child¿s face when they accomplish something for the first time. I feel God has given me a gift of love for children's learning. Carrie Perez Age: 32 City of residence: Cape Girardeau Name of business: Photography by Carrie Years in business: 4 Education/career background: I have an early childhood and elementary education degree from the University of Missouri (Mizzou) as well as a photography degree from the New York Institute of Photography. How did you get your start in photography? I have always loved the camera and all artistic outlets including painting and drawing. I still have many images that I took starting at age 8. There are scrapbooks full of photos where I would pose others and set up my own backdrops, even at times dressing up my dog to use as my subject. This love grew and grew and after documenting my children¿s lives, I realized that my true dream was to open up my own photography studio and offer my creativity to others. I began my studio in my own kitchen and it swiftly grew from there. In just four short years, we are now in a 2,000 square-foot space on Broadway in Cape. What is a typical day for you at the studio? My day begins at 8 a.m. as I prepare the studio, answer emails and listen to phone messages. Shoots begin promptly at 9 a.m. and I will photograph anywhere from four to nine shoots per day, depending on the day of the week. I find myself singing, dancing, making funny faces and some very funny noises throughout much of my day. We specialize in contemporary children and family portraiture so most of my clients love singing their ABCs and making funny faces right along with me. Our atmosphere is laid back, simple and fun for any age. I absolutely love children and enjoy spending each and every day with my little clients. What was the most difficult part of launching a business? The most difficult part of launching my business was the time and money committment. It takes true dedication — hours of learning and putting what you've learned to work for you. We made a substantial investment that first year that truly was a leap of faith. If you have the drive to spend the time and the God-given talent and you love what you do — you have the tools you need to be successful. What advice would you give to women considering opening their own business? Don't be afraid to take the chance but be prepared to spend the time to make your business successful. It's a bit like raising a child. You have to love and nurture it for it to grow. What do you love about your job? I have and always will love the art of photography. Of course I love it when clients are happy and they send sweet thank you notes but more than that — I simply love getting creative and spending my time making heirlooms for each family that comes through my studio. Carrie Anne Tracy Age: 33 City of residence: Cape Name of business: Bloom Years in business: 5 Education/career background: Bachelor of arts in graphic design How did you get your start in the business? Making whimsical cards for family and friends. What is a typical day for you at Bloom? Most days, I try to come in early (if possible) and get a head start on what is scheduled for the day...grab a cup of coffee and enjoy the peace and quiet before the doors open. Once we open at 10, I have a great team of girls who help me run Bloom, while allowing me time to go to my office and work on invitations, cards, graphics, etc. I tend to do a lot of running around, doing a list of odds and ends for certain jobs. There is not a typical schedule and I have had to learn to be more flexible than I normally am. What was the most difficult part of launching a business? I didn't think that launching my business was too difficult because it evolved gradually into what it is today. There was no rush and I didn't have too many expectations. Lately, the most difficult part of owning this business is that I am constantly trying to fit everything in. Fortunately, I have a very understanding and supportive husband! What advice would you give to women considering opening their own business? Look at all of the facts and be prepared to roll with the punches. Allow yourself time to learn. Be patient with yourself and others. Most of all, LOVE what you do! What keeps you coming back day after day? I LOVE the girls that I work with — they are my extended family! And I love how my family and close friends participate in it with me. I appreciate the opportunity to be creative and do that for my job. It truly is a wonderful place to work! Wendy Ray Durham Age: 32 City of residence: Cape Girardeau Name of business: Magnolia Market Years in business: 3 years on January 10 Education/career background: Degree in communication from the University of Missouri; news reporter for KWKZ Radio in Cape Girardeau from July 1999-March 2001; health reporter for KFVS-TV in Cape Girardeau from April 2001-December 2005. How did you get your start in the business? I have always loved flowers and gardening. The thought of opening a business in a town I grew up in was exciting. I decided to offer a different twist compared to other flower shops and sell chocolate dipped fruit, as well. Magnolia Market's first Valentine's Day was just a month after going into business. The flowers and chocolates went over very well and I knew I could make a go of it! What is a typical day for you at Magnolia Market? A typical day consists of flower deliveries, dipping fruit and working on custom orders and arrangements. What was the most difficult part of launching a business? The amount of time it takes to get a business going before you even open your door is difficult. I was anxious to get everything up and running, but waiting on everything to fall into place can be tricky. What advice would you give to women considering opening their own business? Always believe in yourself and your business. Be proud of what you do and stand behind your product. Your love of your work will show! What do you love about your job? I love making people happy by delivering them flowers or chocolate dipped fruit. The expression on someone's face when I totally surprise them makes my day! |
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